Flip the Silver Switch

by Jackie Yeager

  I feel my eyelids drooping. “I’m really glad you’re okay, Grandma.”

  “I’m better than okay. My best girl just placed second in the world at the Piedmont Global Championships, even though she’s first place in my book. Besides, the doctor is letting me put sparkles back in my hair tomorrow. So you know, everything is as it should be.”

  As it should be.

  THE FAREWELL SOIRÉE

  We sit in the clubhouse, leaning against the tree limbs. It’s been twelve hours since the Night of Global Stars, and we need to give our decisions. We have the option of giving our spot up, letting the next team in the standings take our place. But the thing is, either we all go or none of us go. Like if Mare decides not to go, or if I decide not to go, then none of us can go—even if the rest of the team decides they want to.

  So much of the Night of Global Stars is a blur to me. The cheering, the screaming, the smiling, the hugging. But hearing our name called—that’s definitely not a blur. We won second place again—this time in all the world. The Ancestor App and the Satellite Specs will be built, for sure. Our idea and prototype will be sent to PIPS, where it’ll be given to a group of people who’ll begin developing it. With so many stages of planning though, my teammates and I will be able to work on some of it, even if we take the year off to go on the Swirl and Spark Tour.

  I’m really proud of all of us . . . me, my teammates, Seraphina, and Gregor. Together, we did all this and nothing will change that, whether we go on the Swirl and Spark Tour or not.

  Seraphina crosses her legs, swinging her purple heels. “This decision is up to you, and only you, and no one will be mad if you decide the tour is not for you. It’ll be a very big deal to be away from your families and friends for one whole year. It will be a very big commitment on your part, one that we don’t take lightly. If you decide to say yes, you must be certain that it’s what you want.”

  Gregor leans forward. “You each have in your hands the paperwork you and your parents have signed—that we must submit. We need to know now if each of you is still in agreement with the decision your family has made. No matter what the outcome, no matter what your teammates decide. I also need your word that if four of you have made the same decision and one of you has made a different decision, the four of you will not be angry at the one.”

  We nod, and Seraphina continues, “So, no hard feelings either way.”

  “But what about you?” Ander asks. “Do you and Gregor vote too?”

  “No,” says Gregor. “We’re your preceptors. If your team unanimously decides to go, we will be thrilled to accompany you, and if your team decides to return to New York for programming or to enroll at PIPS right now, we’ll be thrilled to hear of your adventures there too.”

  “Can we just get this over with?” asks Mare.

  Suddenly it hits me. I had thought I would be okay with whatever we decided. But I’m not. I want us all to want the same thing.

  “Alright,” says Seraphina. “Let’s see what it’s going to be.”

  “But wait!” I say. “How are you going to tell us? Like are you going to say one at a time, how each of us voted?”

  “No,” says Gregor. “We’re simply going to tell you if we’re going on the tour or not. That way, if the answer is yes, you’ll know you all agreed to go, and if the answer is no, you won’t have to feel blame toward anyone, in case it wasn’t unanimous.”

  I nod. That’s seems fair.

  Seraphina peaks inside each of our envelopes with no expression on her face at all. She hands them to Gregor, who does the same. He looks stone-faced too. “Shall I say it or would you like to?”

  She picks at her purple nail polish. “I’d like to if you don’t mind.”

  Oh my god, just say it!

  She looks at us, still with no expression, and says, “Well, my Crimson Kids. I’m not surprised at all that you agreed.”

  Wait, agreed to do what?

  “We’re going!”

  I scream. “We are? We all said yes?”

  “You all said yes!”

  Our true dreams are sometimes different than what we wish for. Have the courage to make your true dream come true.

  And that’s why I voted yes. Because sure I want to go to PIPS, but my true dream is to be a mermaid, just like I told the judges at the Piedmont Challenge, swimming with my new friends all summer.

  The Colony Square is a sea of kids swimming, laughing, singing, and dancing under strands of twinkling lights. Music fills the air in an endless loop of songs from all over the world. Some we know, so we belt out the words. Others are strange to us, sung in languages we don’t understand, but we dance to them anyway. Rhythm is rhythm in any language, I guess.

  Martina is laughing near the Creativity Pool with her teammates from Michigan and Becca from Texas. She sees me and waves me over. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you before we left tomorrow. I was hoping we could exchange numbers and maybe stay in touch.”

  I smile. “I’d like that.”

  “I have something to show you.”

  I can’t read her face. It’s not happy but not sad either. She opens a message on her watch.

  Martina, I don’t know where to begin so I’ll begin at the Piedmont Global Finals. I headed to Québec yesterday to find my students, the New York team from my school at Crimson Heights. I wanted to keep track of them, watch their every move. I wanted them to win—more than anything—because since your Grandmother died, that’s all that I had in my life. I left our home in Michigan because any reminder of her was simply too painful for me. But what I found yesterday in Québec, through the people associated with the Piedmont Organization, was something I didn’t expect. I found you.

  I had lost track of the years, lost track of you, and all this time I could have been cheering for you. I could have been in your corner. It may be too much to ask, but if you would agree, I’d like to see you in person to congratulate you. If you don’t, I’ll understand. But I owe you and your grandmother that much. You deserved better than I gave you. I’ll be at your aero-bus when you leave tomorrow. If you want to talk to me, I’ll be there. Grandpa Bermuda

  I don’t know what to say to her, so I hug her instead. “Are you going to go?”

  She smiles. “Maybe. I think so.”

  “He sounds really sorry. Can you send me a message on the way back and tell me what he says?”

  “Definitely!”

  I head back to my team, and they’re talking to the French team. “Maelle!” I call.

  She turns around. “Kia! So it’s true? We are all going on the Swirl and Spark Tour together, yes?”

  “Yes! We’re going too!”

  Mare smirks at me in her Mare-ish way, like she can’t stand me, but she can’t fool me anymore. “So we’re stuck with each other for a whole year.”

  I smile and put my arm around her. “With more matching clothes and everything!”

  Jillian swirls around. “This is going to be fabulous. We’re going to be world travelers together!”

  Ander pats Jax on the back. “Are you ready for this, Big Guy? Ready for another juggling tournament?”

  Jax shakes his head. “I’m definitely ready to go, but no juggling this time.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.”

  Ander shrugs. “Okay, I guess I’ll have to think of something else.”

  I laugh. Of course, he will.

  “Is this really happening, KK? Are we really going to be flying all over the world together, with the kids from Switzerland and France?”

  I smile at him, and my heart feels happier than I could have ever imagined.

  “But what about PIPS? I was afraid you were going to choose to go there right away. I thought that was the most important thing to you,” Ander says.

  “I guess I was wrong. I mean, PIPS will be g
reat and everything—someday—but this way the five of us are stuck together for a whole year before any of us has to decide where to go next.”

  “You’re right, KK, and we didn’t even need the extra duct tape.”

  “We better bring some on the trip anyway. You know, in case the silver switch needs fixing again, or the golden light bulb needs sticking, or—”

  “Or what?”

  “I’m not sure. Who knows what other tasks we’ll be getting next? But the Swirl and Spark Tour is a whole year, and you know how the Piedmont people are.”

  Acknowledgments

  Seeing my first book in published form was a dream come true for me. Now, seeing my second book out in the world too? Well, it’s so much more than I ever imagined possible. My heart is full thinking about all the people who’ve helped to bring Flip the Silver Switch to life:

  To my husband, Jim: You’re my constant in so many ways, and all of this is more meaningful and fun because I’m able to share it with you. Thank you for your technical advisement when my inventions made no sense at all, and your last minute idea for the Satellite Spectacles. It was a game-changer for this book. But most of all, thank you for sticking with me in spite of the fact that I live in a dream-world most of the time!

  To my daughter, Danielle—my right-hand girl. Thank you for listening and cheering me on through the ups and downs of writing this story and for your perfect portrayal of Seraphina in the Spin the Golden Light Bulb extended book trailer. It would not have been the same without you! And to my son, Adam—the one who imagines even bigger possibilities than I do. Thank you for inspiring me with your over-the-top dreams of the future, especially as I re-lived the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals and re-imagined it into the Piedmont Global Championships. They are evident on so many pages of this book.

  To my mom and dad: Thank you for showing me the importance of family. The only reason I’m able to write about close family connections at all is because I’ve experienced them. I’m so grateful to share this journey with you. And to my mother-in-law and father-in-law who never stop asking me about my books: It means everything to me that you both care so much!

  To Terri, Amy, Candy, Joanna, Kelly, Di, Sam, and Christi: Sometimes the most important members of a team are your forever friends and sisters—the ones who cheer for you during both the big and small moments of the game. I treasure you all. To Brian, Bobby, Tom, and Dave: Thank you for being rock solid role models in our family and a source of so much support to me. I appreciate you all. And to my niece, Stella, who portrays Kia Krumpet in the book trailers in such an adorable way: Thank you, Sweetie!

  To my nieces and nephews: Riley, Jordan, Jason, Tori, Eva, Mackenzie, Ben, Sarah, Eli, Stella, Samantha, and Van: You’ve made me smile so much through the years and bits and pieces of each of you are sprinkled throughout this book. My characters would be incomplete without you!

  To Maelle Cossec from Quimper, France: You felt like a daughter to me during the short time you lived with us as an exchange student. Thank you for your friendship and for sharing your culture with all of us! I told you I was going to include you as a character in my next book. Well, I finally did! And to Zoe Lelievre, our new French friend as well: It was a joy spending time with you too. Hopefully all of our paths will cross again one day!

  To Joe Burns and Melyssa Mercado, my invaluable critique partners: What would I do without you? I’m so grateful for your honest feedback, brilliant insight, support of my writing—and friendship. Thank you for helping to make Flip the Silver Switch the story that it is. To Jordan Meechan, my beta reader: This book is so much better because of your thoughts. One day, I hope to return the favor. And to the Electric Eighteens, 2018 Debut Author Group: You’ve been a source of incredible support to me as I’ve navigated my debut year. Thank you for helping to make it a year to remember. May all of your debut days be just as spectacular!

  To Dayna Anderson, my publisher. You’ve changed my life by believing in THE CRIMSON FIVE books. I will forever think of you as my fairy godmother. Thank you to you and the entire Amberjack Publishing team for being nothing short of stellar. I couldn’t ask for a better home for my books. I’m honored to be associated with Amberjack and its amazing authors.

  To Jenny Miller, my editor, and Keara Donick, my publicist: I wish I could tell you both in person how grateful I am for the work you’ve done on my behalf. But, as Kia would say, “Some things are too big to spit into words.” You are both so incredible to work with and have made this experience a dream come true. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  To Rebecca Angus, my agent at Golden Wheat Literary: Writing a book is a small thing compared to the important work carried out by so many others. You and Patrick exemplify all that is good in our country. Thank you for supporting me and my writing endeavors as you gracefully navigate your life as a military spouse too. I am in awe of you.

  To Gabrielle Esposito, the amazing talent behind the covers and chapter illustrations of Spin the Golden Light Bulb and Flip the Silver Switch: You’ve captured the world of THE CRIMSON FIVE brilliantly. It’s almost eerie, as if you were able to see the images in my head while I dreamed up this story. These books would not be the same without your magic touch. Thank you so very much!

  To the Odyssey of the Mind Organization for creating a program which has inspired thousands of children around the world to solve problems in the most creative ways: If it weren’t for OotM, I would have never had the idea for THE CRIMSON FIVE books. I’ll be forever grateful that my kids and I were a part of your program. And to the kids I’ve coached through the years—every single one of you brought something special to my teams, and I’m grateful to have worked with you. Thank you for giving me such fun material for this book!

  A heartfelt thanks to Kara, Adam, Meg, Jake, and Julia—the kids behind THE CRIMSON FIVE characters. Thank you for being my inspiration—again—and for stepping back in time with me to create the Spin the Golden Light Bulb extended book trailer. You are all amazing! And thank you to the Bilodeau, Davis, Leach, and Vanill families. Sharing the OotM World Finals with all of you was spectacular and I hope I was able to reflect a bit of that experience on the pages of this book.

  And finally to my readers: every child, parent, teacher, librarian, blogger, reviewer, family member, and friend. Thank you for choosing my book, especially when there are so many wonderful books in the world to choose from. It’s a privilege to share my story with you. I hope that you see yourself someplace in these pages, and that whatever path you choose or goal you set for yourself, you always remember to Think More. Work Hard. Dream Big!

  About the Author

  Jackie Yeager is a middle grade author whose stories inspire children to think more, work hard, and dream big. She holds a Master’s degree in Education and spent several years coaching Odyssey of the Mind, where her team once-upon-a-time competed at the World Finals. She lives in Rochester, NY with her real life prince charming and two royally amazing teens.

  When she’s not writing imaginative middle grade fiction or living in her own fairly-tale world, she can be found conducting creative problem solving/writing workshops for kids and blogging at www.swirlandspark.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

  Flip the Silver Switch is her second book, following the first book in the Crimson Five series, Spin the Golden Light Bulb (2018).